Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins

Introduction: Poly(methyl vinyl ether co-maleic acid) (PMVE/MA) hydrogel microneedles (HMN) are investigated for transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs owing to their biocompatibility and super-swelling properties. However, the drug delivery efficacy reduces with increasing molecular weight du...

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Main Authors: Chandran, Rubhan, Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu, Stanslas, Johnson, Salim, Norazlinaliza, Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bentham Science Publishers 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/1/117689.pdf
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author Chandran, Rubhan
Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu
Stanslas, Johnson
Salim, Norazlinaliza
Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa
author_facet Chandran, Rubhan
Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu
Stanslas, Johnson
Salim, Norazlinaliza
Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa
author_sort Chandran, Rubhan
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Introduction: Poly(methyl vinyl ether co-maleic acid) (PMVE/MA) hydrogel microneedles (HMN) are investigated for transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs owing to their biocompatibility and super-swelling properties. However, the drug delivery efficacy reduces with increasing molecular weight due to the entrapment within the HMN matrices. Furthermore, integrating external drug reservoirs extends the drug diffusion path and reduces the efficiency of drug permeation. Methods: A direct drug loading approach in the HMN matrix was introduced in this work following a pH modification step. The effect of pH modification on the physicochemical properties of HMN was studied. Then, bovine serum albumin (BSA), a model protein, was loaded into the pH-modified HMN, and the morphological changes in HMN and protein stability were also assessed. Finally, the efficacy of BSA-loaded HMN in the transdermal delivery was evaluated ex vivo. Results: A significant increase in swelling was recorded following the pH modification of HMN (p < 0.001). The structure of pH-modified hydrogel was highly porous, and ATR-FTIR spectra indicated a shift in the carboxylic peak. The secondary structure of BSA loaded in the pH-modified HMN was also preserved. The BSA-loaded HMN mediated a sustained ex-vivo drug release with a cumulative release of 64.70% (3.88 mg) in 24 h. Conclusion: Hence, the model drug-incorporated PMVE/MA HMN system shows potential for sustainable transdermal delivery of proteins.
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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spelling upm-1176892025-06-11T03:31:47Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/ Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins Chandran, Rubhan Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu Stanslas, Johnson Salim, Norazlinaliza Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa Introduction: Poly(methyl vinyl ether co-maleic acid) (PMVE/MA) hydrogel microneedles (HMN) are investigated for transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs owing to their biocompatibility and super-swelling properties. However, the drug delivery efficacy reduces with increasing molecular weight due to the entrapment within the HMN matrices. Furthermore, integrating external drug reservoirs extends the drug diffusion path and reduces the efficiency of drug permeation. Methods: A direct drug loading approach in the HMN matrix was introduced in this work following a pH modification step. The effect of pH modification on the physicochemical properties of HMN was studied. Then, bovine serum albumin (BSA), a model protein, was loaded into the pH-modified HMN, and the morphological changes in HMN and protein stability were also assessed. Finally, the efficacy of BSA-loaded HMN in the transdermal delivery was evaluated ex vivo. Results: A significant increase in swelling was recorded following the pH modification of HMN (p < 0.001). The structure of pH-modified hydrogel was highly porous, and ATR-FTIR spectra indicated a shift in the carboxylic peak. The secondary structure of BSA loaded in the pH-modified HMN was also preserved. The BSA-loaded HMN mediated a sustained ex-vivo drug release with a cumulative release of 64.70% (3.88 mg) in 24 h. Conclusion: Hence, the model drug-incorporated PMVE/MA HMN system shows potential for sustainable transdermal delivery of proteins. Bentham Science Publishers 2025-01-15 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/1/117689.pdf Chandran, Rubhan and Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu and Stanslas, Johnson and Salim, Norazlinaliza and Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa (2025) Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins. Current Drug Delivery, 22. art. no. 39819406. pp. 1-13. ISSN 1567-2018; eISSN: 1875-5704 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39819406/ Drug delivery systems Serum albumin Proteins 10.2174/0115672018346286241121052105
spellingShingle Drug delivery systems
Serum albumin
Proteins
Chandran, Rubhan
Mohd Tohit, Eusni Rahayu
Stanslas, Johnson
Salim, Norazlinaliza
Tuan Mahmood, Tuan Mazlelaa
Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title_full Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title_fullStr Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title_full_unstemmed Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title_short Drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
title_sort drug-loaded hydrogel microneedles for sustainable transdermal delivery of macromolecular proteins
topic Drug delivery systems
Serum albumin
Proteins
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117689/1/117689.pdf